Oswald Rognes, 1922-2019

Published 1:00 am Saturday, March 30, 2019

Oswald “Ozzie” Rognes, 96, of Lake Mills died Wednesday, March 27, 2019, the day before his 97th birthday, at Lake Mills Care Center. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Salem Lutheran Church, 401 S. Lake St. in Lake Mills. The Rev. Joel L. Guttormson will officiate. Memorial visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Oswald Rognes

Ozzie was born March 28, 1922, on the family farm near Scarville, Iowa, to Alfred and Jenette (Bye) Rognes. He was confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church.

Ozzie grew up on the family farm with seven brothers and sisters. He attended country school and graduated from Joice High School.

Ozzie was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Muriel Petersburg, on Feb. 26, 1943, at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church. To this union five children were born: Michael, Dennis, Linda, Becky and Todd.

Ozzie loved farming and he took great pride in his farming operation. Later in life, Ozzie built several homes in the Rice Lake area and continued to help his son with field work for many years. Ozzie served on several community, church and business boards through the years including the Iowa Beef Producers Association, Lake Mills Community School, Rice Lake Golf & Country Club, Salem Lutheran Church and Winnebago Mutual. He was also a 4-H leader.

Ozzie and Muriel enjoyed spending time with their family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, playing cards and loved spending their winters in Texas. Ozzie was an avid golfer and was proud to say he recorded six holes-in-one during his life and shot his age several times.  Later in life, Ozzie enjoyed driving his John Deere 730 on local tractor rides.

Ozzie is survived by his wife of 76 years, Muriel Rognes, of Lake Mills; son, Michael (Jean) Rognes, of Albert Lea; son, Dennis (LuAnne) Rognes, of Lake Mills; daughter, Linda (Maury) Hope, of Ankeny, Iowa; daughter, Becky (Steve) Johnson, of Albert Lea; son, Todd (Susan) Rognes, of Clear Lake; 10 grandchildren, Paul (Becky) Rognes, Elizabeth (Jason Johnson) Rognes, Kjersti Rognes, Charles (Jamie) Rognes, Matt (Laura Zaugg) Hope, Stephanie (Jeff) Summy, Scott Johnson, Ellie (Garret) Schumaker, Chandler Rognes and Reed Rognes; 12 great-grandchildren, Lindsey and Leah Rognes, Nelson and Ingrid Rognes-Johnson, Raelynn Rognes, Jackson, Grant, Cooper, Cal and Henry Summy, Landon Johnson and Owen Schumaker; one brother, Ray (Loretta) Rognes, of Tampa; three sisters, June Bang of Oviedo, Florida, Rosella Purcell of Amherst, Ohio, and Norma Barville of Batavia, Illinois; sister-in-law, Colleen Rogness, of Lake Mills; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Mark Rognes; three brothers, Jerome Rognes, Byford Rogness and Al Rognes; father-in-law and mother-in-law Edwin and Mabel Petersburg; and other relatives and friends.